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Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2022

Same levy, different name: Reconstruction tax to be shifted to defense spending

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's latest plan to fund a defense budget hike is to create a new defense tax.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Dec 15, 2022

Monk militia: The Buddhist clergy backing Myanmar's junta

Buddhist monks in Myanmar previously sought to topple successive military dictatorships that kept citizens impoverished and isolated, but many are now supporters of the new junta.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 14, 2022

Defense spending debate threatens to divide ruling Liberal Democratic Party

Rather than raising taxes, some LDP lawmakers want the prime minister to issue government bonds.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 14, 2022

Rebooting the World Bank

A primary obstacle to reforming the World Bank's dysfunctional governance is a small group of nonborrowing countries, led by the United States, that dominate its decision-making.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 14, 2022

Approving executions one of most important duties, justice minister says

Justice Minister Ken Saito assumed the post in place of Yasuhiro Hanashi, who was dismissed from the role following remarks that were interpreted as making light of his responsibilities.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 14, 2022

Japan MSDF captain demoted for power harassment

The ministry also demoted one of the captain's superiors by one rank, citing negligence in investigating the charges.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 14, 2022

Egg prices soar in Japan on feed costs and bird flu outbreaks

The spread of bird flu is impacting egg prices just as demand was recovering after a drop caused by the pandemic, an industry official said.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Dec 14, 2022

Michael Jordan and other NBA legends honored in award rebrand

Following a path set in naming the All-Star Game MVP trophy after Kobe Bryant, the NBA revealed the league MVP trophy would be re-established as the Michael Jordan Trophy this season.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 13, 2022

The politics of Japan's defense spending

When Japan first imposed the 1% of GDP defense-spending ceiling , the issue has been a matter of politics and any attempt to breach that threshold has been taboo.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 13, 2022

Is Japan’s counterstrike capability a departure from its post-WWII pacifism?

What is the future of Japan's defense-oriented security posture amid growing military threats and a worsening geopolitical environment?
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 13, 2022

China to set economic plans amid shift from 'zero-COVID' to growth

Economists expect President Xi Jinping and his officials to flesh out policy objectives for the coming year at the Central Economic Work Conference.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 13, 2022

Civil engineering with an unwavering philosophy

“Our company is 100 years old, but our corporate philosophy of ‘Sincerity, Positivity, Harmony’ can be traced back some 400 years as a precept of a samurai family,” Ohba & Co. President Shigeru Tsujimoto said in a recent interview with The Japan Times.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 13, 2022

Lockerbie bombing suspect appears briefly in U.S. court

Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, 71, appeared in court just days after being captured in Libya.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Dec 12, 2022

Kishida's plan to fund higher defense spending faces backlash

The prime minister's suggestion of tax increases hasn't gone down well, even among Cabinet members and lawmakers from his own party.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 12, 2022

China’s rapid COVID reversal sparks whiplash as cases surge

Scenes of disruption are most visible in Beijing, where anecdotal evidence suggest the caseload is many times the government's tally.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Longform
Dec 12, 2022

Smooth operator: Rahm Emanuel’s transition to life as a diplomat

The U.S. ambassador on adjusting to life in Tokyo, his direct management style and dealing with Japanese politicians.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 11, 2022

Recruited for Navy SEALs, many sailors wind up scraping paint

The high failure rate of the elite U.S. SEALs' selection course shunts hundreds of candidates into low-skilled jobs.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Dec 10, 2022

Take a journey through the mythic and mundane in 'The Thorn Puller'

Hiromi Ito's semi-autobiographical, transnational novel probes the complexities of life as it follows the struggles of a woman shouldering an impressive load of family troubles.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2022

Japan eyeing F-35 fighter rotational deployments to Australia

During “two-plus-two” talks held Friday evening in Tokyo, the nations' foreign and defense ministers agreed to step up both military cooperation and exchanges.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 9, 2022

Biden’s one-for-one Brittney Griner swap stirs unease and elation

The Kremlin quickly characterized the swap as an example of Russian President Vladimir Putin one-upping Biden, with an official calling it 'a true Christmas present.”
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 9, 2022

Ukraine says Russia has shelled eastern front line, as war aims appear to shift

The fiercest fighting was near the towns of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, the region's governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said in a TV interview.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Dec 9, 2022

Vietnam shifts gears on arms trade as it loosens ties with Russia

The move comes as Vietnam strives to become more self-sufficient, obtain advanced gear that Russia can't provide and faces Western pressure to reduce arms purchases from Moscow.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 8, 2022

World Cup attendance lower than Qatar's expectations

A huge surge in visitors is unlikely at this stage, with only eight teams remaining in Doha and eight matches left.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 8, 2022

SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son quietly lifts stake to 34%, edging toward buyout

The billionaire now owns more than a third of the company he founded, after aggressive buybacks in the last two months.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 8, 2022

‘Dr. Coto's Clinic 2022’: Heartwarming drama offers predictable prognosis

Much of the original cast from Fuji TV's 2003 drama “Dr. Koto's Clinic” return for this feature film about the highs and lows of life as an island physician.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 7, 2022

Germany arrests 25 suspected of far-right plot to overthrow state

One active soldier and several reservists are among those being investigated, a spokesperson for the military intelligence service said.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 7, 2022

Will Russians choose truth or lies? Ukraine’s fate depends on them

How ordinary Russians deal with their government's propaganda has become a matter of war and peace.

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat